While at this stage Mr Barnett has said the cut will only apply to hospitality, tourism and retail workers, United Voice WA Secretary Carolyn Smith said any industry could be next and all Union members should join the campaign to Save Our Weekend.

His attacks on penalty rates follow suit with his federal counterpart Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who is also seeking a cut to penalty rates of workers employed by mid-to-large businesses.

Under industrial relations jurisdiction the State retains coverage of small and micro-businesses that provide an estimated 11 to 16 per cent of the private sector workforce.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan however has vowed to support workers' and their right for penalty rates.

United Voice are vehemently opposed to Mr Barnet’s shortsighted plan, and Ms Smith said members will be campaigning to Save Our Weekend right up to State Election.

“Mr Barnett needs to understand weekends still matter, people get penalty rates because they lose out on precious time spent with their family," Ms Smith said.

“We are coming up to the Christmas period where thousands of people will miss out on family time and special celebrations because they have to work on weekends, public holidays and even Christmas Day to ensure they are able to put a roof over their head and food on their table.

“This will be a sudden pay cut for some of the State’s lowest-paid workers who can’t afford to lose that money."

Ms Smith said during the Federal Election United Voice targeted marginal seats on the issue of penalty rates, and in the end that saw several Liberal politicians lose their jobs.

“Following Mr Barnett’s comments we will be targeting marginal seats leading up to the State Election in March and fighting against any cuts to penalty rates," Ms Smith said.

“Mr Barnett is incredibly shortsighted if he thinks this is the way to dig himself out of the hole that he has created with unemployment in Western Australia the highest in the country.

“And after putting Western Australia in a record amount of debt Mr Barnett shows he has no compassion and is happy to sacrifice some of the lowest-paid workers in an effort to buy business votes.

“But he will be doing the economy a disservice, because with more money in their pockets these workers are able to boost different sections of our local economy.

“For these workers, and our members, the choice come March 2017 is pretty clear.